Gentiana pseudazurea Grubov, G. subpolytrichoides Grubov, and G. tischkovii Grubov have been described from Xizang by Grubov (J. Jap. Bot. 69: 18-21. 1994). However, specimens
have not been seen by the authors, and the species are not included in this treatment.

Perennials; basal leaves persistent at flowering time, blades (excluding petiole) mostly over 3 cm and much larger than stem leaves or vegetative rosettes present along with flowering stems and their leaves distinctly larger than those of flowering stems.

Flowering stems arising from a ± stout erect caudex, often with a well-developed ± stout taproot and/or in a dense tuft (sometimes also stoloniferous); leaves and inflorescences diverse but above combination of characters generally not present.

Remains of old leaf bases at base of current season's growth absent or membranous, not distinctly fibrous or if somewhat fibrous then with stem leaves numerous, closely spaced, less than 5 mm wide, and with flowers solitary; seed coat with membranous lamellae forming spongy complex hexagonal pits.

Seed coat alveolate, with hexagonal pits; flowers solitary or clustered in axillary or terminal inflorescences, if clustered then with corollas over 1.5 cm and/or with calyx lobes each with distinct blade and petiole